PurposeThis paper conceptualizes the broaden-build and self-determination theories that act as the major theoretical framework to investigate the role of psychological detachment and job crafting behaviours in predicting intrinsic motivation through emotional stability. It was hypothesized that emotionally stable employees are better able to detach themselves from work and craft their job according to their preference and abilities, which would inculcate experience and make them intrinsically motivated.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised 396 employees, who are employed in different organizations across India. To test the hypotheses, the authors conducted structural equation modelling on SPSS AMOS 22.FindingsThe results highlight the partial mediating role of emotional stability in the association of psychological detachment with intrinsic motivation as well as the fully mediating role between job crating and intrinsic motivation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is conducted in a non-western collectivist culture and it makes significant contribution to the available literature on intrinsic motivation by proving that psychological detachment and job crafting act as predictor and highlighting the psychological state through emotional stability. The study further adds toward theory building around the construct of emotional stability, as it is still in its infancy.Practical implicationsThis study has depicted that emotionally stable employees who are psychologically detached and have proactive job crafting behaviour can achieve higher intrinsic motivation.Originality/valueOn the basis of the recovery process (i.e. the effort-recovery model), the broaden and build theory and self-determination theory (SDT), this paper demonstrates that emotional stability plays the role of mediator that drives psychological detachment and encourages job crafting, which has the ability to intrinsically motivate the employees.